Burial casket



April 14, 1931- A. G. HARMS 1,800,793

BURIAL CASKET Filed Aug. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1931. AHARMS 1,800,793

BURIAL CASKET Filed Aug. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April-14, 1931. A. e.HARMS 1,300,793

V BURIAL GASKET I Filed Aug. 24, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet s I I w i Ill! 3 3Patented Apr. 14, 1931 ALBERT G. HARMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BUBIALCASKET Application filed August 24, 1927. Serial No. 215,101.

My invention relates to burial caskets and, more particularly, theobject'thereof is to provide a novel construction of movable or falsebottom, and means to raise or lower the same, whereby the corpse may bereposed or inclined in a natural, sleeping position when on view, orlowered into the casket for burial, and also to cant or tilt the body tothe side from which it is viewed at the burial service, to assist inthis desideratum of appearance, and especially to accommodate theremains of a stout person.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for operatingthe false bottom from the head end of the casket, which means is hiddenby the lining of the casket so as not to detract from the appearance andto so construct the movable or false bottom in conjunction with thecanting or tilting means, or independently thereof, which will permitone arm to drop down or be lowered at the side from which the body isviewed to add to the appearance of comfort and natural repose ofthe armswhen the body is arranged in the casket. g

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a novel construction offalse bottom adapted to be inclined longitudinally of the casket byraising the same at the head end and pivoting the bottom upon a.suitable fulcrum' preferably located intermediately of the lengththereof together with novel leveroperated means foractuating the bottom,

and novel means for holding the bottom in a canted or tilted positiontransversely inclined or slanted'to one side, and to so construct thebottom that one arm may be dropped down to. avoid a cramped position.

With theabove' and other objects in view, the. invention consists of acertain novel co1nbination and arrangement of parts to be hereinaftermore particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view ofa casket having a false bottom and means for raising and lowering thesame in accordance with the invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the section line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the sectionline 4-4.- of Figure 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional views showingpivotal mountings or fulcrums for the movable false bottom.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse horizontal sectional view taken onthe section line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the false bottom.

F ig. 9 is a perspective view of the false bottom.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on thesection line 10'10 of Figure 9. i

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation showing a modified form ofcanting means for the false bottom.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on the section line 12-12 ofFigure 11, and

Figs. 13 and 14 are detail sectional views taken on the section lines1313 and 1414 of Figure 11.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the casket 1 may be of any wellknown construction or shape in plan and has a bottom 2, a sectional topmolding 3, the front portion 4 of which may be hinged as at 5 to dropdown over the side. The casket may be fitted with the usual shirred orother lining, not shown. The end section 6 of the molding is hinged at 7to swing outwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 2, while the back portion 8constituting a section of the molding 3 is hinged as at 9 to swingbackwardly to an inclined position and may have the usual top panellOforming 9 part of the closure hinged to the molding 8, as shown at 11,or rigidly attached thereto in a manner common in the art. The top panelmay be formed in one or two sections or the casket may be of the typehaving a drop side which is also well known in the art. The panel 10 isadapted to be held in an upright position by any suitable means such asa tape or cord 12 when the panel is open for v1ewing the body in thecasket at the open top thereof. 7 I

Mounted within the casket on the bottom 2 is a false bottom 13 which ispivoted or ful- 5 crumed intermediately as indicated at 14 andpreferably made in the form of a bed bottom with the fulcrum extendingtransversely. This bottom is ma'de up of a section'of angle iron or thelike having a topflange14. ex-

10 tending inwardly and a verticalflange at the outside along the sidesand ends thereof,

u the corners of'which are suitably bent and reinforced to sustain theweight as indicated at 16. The adjustable false bottom is. in the 15form of abed frameadapted to take a mattress '17 and has a spring bottom18 of suitable construction but shown as including longitudinal strips19 connected to the ends I by means of springs 20 and preferably hav-'26 ing transverse strips 21, two of whichare located substantiallyintermediately' of. the

length of the bottom and arrangedover a series .of springs 22 resting ina sheet'inetal.

trough 0r cradle 23 to which the fulcrum 14 is'attached. gThis fulcrummay bein the formof'a semi-circular piece secured to the bottom of thecradle or U-shaped member 23 I and resting transversely on the.botton1'2 to permit the necessary tilting of'the movable bottonrwhichis'adjustable to different longitudinal inclinations or adapted; .to bear-f ranged parallel to the bottom2 in a manner hereinafter moreparticularly described.

v As previously stated, the bottom is'preferably made of a singlesection of'an'gle iron andin itspreferredconstruction has'ione enddirected downwardly" as indicated at 24 and then horizontally to formthe depressed portion 25 which is located-parallel to but inaplane'below the frame proper.

The innereXt-remity ofthe portion 25' is anchored to the trough orcradle 23within the end portion thereof, as indicated at 26, and'theother side portion 27 is anchored over the top edge and against the sideportion or-end of the trough23 above the portion 25 as indicated at28,while the extremity .thereo'fis directed downwardly against the edgeportion of-the trough 2321s indicated" at 29 to brace andre- 5o inforcethis side and at the-same timev provide an opening 30 which willaccommodate one arm sothatthe same may bedroppedidowri or lowered. Adiagonal brace 31; may connect 4 the portions 24 and 25 lto-reinforcethe same.

I This'brace is preferably bolted or riveted.-

' thereto at its ends'as indicated at 32. The portion 24 has onesideorflange eXtendingtrans-' versely, at the end and the other sideor'flange extending longitudinally; The part 25 has its 6 0 bottomflange extending inwardly or transversely and the outerffiangeextending'upwardly forattachmenttogether with the part 27 to a plate 33,at the points 26 and 28,as heretofore described. I i Y 85; l The falseor bed bottom which forms an adjustable support in the casket,- asmounted "thebottom 2 and preferably made of angle iron,oto.which issecured, as at 35, an upright 36 which is" rigidly secured in thisposition by a diago'nal brace '37 c'pnnected to the upper portion of theupright 36 and one outer end ofthe base portion 34, as shown moreparticularly in Figure 40f the draw ings; -;A notched segment 38 is alsorigidly. attached to the upper end ofth'eupright 36' and is supported inthis positionby a brace; 39 between the outer end of the segment 38} andthe brace 37 near its lower end but'pref 'erably spaced therefrom at thepoint 40,

which securing meansforms apivotfor' at i. ll 0 As shown, the bell cranklever has its main bell crank lever 41.

arm extending upwardly and is provided with a handle 42in the form of asleeve slidable thereon and recessed or slotted at one side-toreceivethenotched segment 38, the sleeve having a tooth 43 co-operatingwith the notches 44 at the bottom edge of the segf ment so as to preventthe lining of the casket from catching therein. In order to-hold thetooth in thenotches, an expansible coil spring 45" is "interposedbetween theupper, end of thelever 41 andaplug 46 is removably secured-inthe upper end of thesleeve forming the handle 42, so as tolhold thesleeve upi Wardly displaced. This holds the leverin'i anadjustedpositionbut' permits the sleeve to'be depressed forrdisengagiiig theteeth from the notches when it is desired to move, the lever-forraisingor lowering the false or bed'bottom. The short arm 47 oftherlever is braced tothe long arm asfindicated'at 48,

although theseparts maybe made rigid with-z outthis brace, but itwillb'e noted thatthe arms are located at, an" acute angle'with' re spect toeach other. The free end of the, arm T 4 7 is pivotally connected, asindicated at49, to a link 50 which in turn is pivotally cone nected, asindicated at-51, to a -flatsleeve 5 ,2. slidably mounted on the upright36, thejsleeve having its: lower portion sp'lit and turned v back toform ears 53 and being intermediately connected to thelink; 50, Whilethe'upper end thereof has the front portion cutaway end of the false orbed'bottom 14, as indicated at'55. The cars 53serve for the pivotal"connection therewith of *s'pringheld ratchet bars 56, the'upper freeends'of which 1 are bifurcated orforked as indicated at 57 to straddlenotched plates: andheld in to provide an'ear 54 which is attached to thei engagement therewith by springs 56', the plates 58 being secured tothe end of the false bottom near the opposite sides and having the teethand notches in the bottom edges thereof to co-operate with the ratchetbars 56. i This latter mechanism is designed to permit the movablebottom to be canted or tilted to one sidethat is transversely toward theside from which the body is viewed. This is accomplished by disengagingthe ratchet bar 56 at that side and shifting it outwardly along thenotched plate while the other ratchet bar 56 is shifted inwardly tosustain the corresponding side of the movable bottom in a raisedposition tilted or inclined toward the viewing side, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 4 of the drawings. Of course, it is to be understoodthat the movable bottom is raised from the normal position shown insolid lines in Figures 1, 3 and 4 before it is tilted. In order toaccomplish this, the lever 41 is swung over to the right from theposition shown in Figure 4 after depressing the handle 42 to disengagethe tooth 43 from the notch 44 in which it is seated. This rocks thelever 41 on its pivot and swings the short arm 47 upwardly to raise thesleeve 52 and with it the attached ratchet bars '56, as well as the endof the movable bottom 13 so that the latter is disposed in alongitudinally inclined position. This raises the head and lowers thefeet, owing to the pivotalmovement of the false or movable bed bottom 13on its fulcrum. By releasing the'handle 42 the tooth 43' will engageanother notch 44 of the segment 38' and retain the movable bottom in thedesired adjusted position. In addition to canting or tilting the movablebottom to one side, which movement is readily permitted by theflexibility of the bed bottom frame and the fact that such movement iscomparatively slight, the depressed portion 25 will accommodate the armat that side so as to permit the rc-; mains to be placed in a morenatural position without cramping thea-rms as at present occurs. Ofcourse, the bottom is straightened and lowered before the casket isclosed for burial. This will avoid interference with the closing of thelid. It will also be noted that the link 50 compensates for the swingofthe arm 47 in an arc and insures against binding of the sleeve 52 asit slides on the upright 36. a a a In Figures 11 to 14 inclusive, theadjusting means is the same aspreviously de scribed except that in lieuof the ratchet bars 56 and the notched plates 58 for canting or tiltingthe movable bottom, an adjusting screw 59 is swiveled or rotatablyretained in the base portion 84 by means of a bracket 60 carried by thebase portion and passes through a nut 61 fixed to the end of the movablebottom, the threads of the rod engaging the nut and a head 62 beingprovided on the rod to permit it to be turned through the nut forinclining the bed bottom transversely or for disposing the same in anormal horizontal position.

Instead of mounting the movable bottom 13 on the pivot or fulcrum 14, itmay be mounted as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, in which the sidesof the frame are perforated as at 63 to receive screws or lugs 64 in thesides of the casket shell to support the center of the tilting springbottom. These screws or pivots 64 may extend through bearing plates 65secured to the sides of the casket shell.

In Figure 6 of the drawings, another pivotal mounting of the movablebottom is shown in which the sides are similarly perforated or aperturedand the bearings 65 are attached to the inner faces of the sides of thecasket shell to receive a pivot rod 66 which extends entirely across thesame beneath the movable bottom and through the apertures 63 thereof.This rod is suitably anchored against endwise displacement with respectto the movable bottom and casket shell, as by means of lock nuts 67 orother enlargements on the ends thereof seated in recesses 68 in theouter faces of the walls of the casket shell.

It will thus be obvious that when the casket is lined and a mattress orother cushion arranged upon the movable spring or bed bottom, theoperating mechanism will be substantially hidden from view and will notinterfere with the usual lining and interior finish. Also, the falsebottom of the casket may be raised so as to dispose the same in aninclined position for viewing purposes and thereafter lowered to permitthe casket lid to be closed for burial purposes. The false bottom may beheld in any desired adjusted position in addition to moving on thetransverse fulcrum so as to incline the same longitudinally and may becanted or tilted transversely of the casket toward the side from whichthe remains is viewed. This will also assist in the accommodation of astout body. The latter function is further enhanced due to the depressedportion 25 which accommodates the arm at that side and permits the armto be lowered so as to be arranged with the other arm in a natural orcomfortable position, which has heretofore been impossible. It is, ofcourse, to be understood that other materials may be employed in theconstruction than those described.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I amaware that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention, the scope of which maybe determined by reference to the appended claims. a

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a burial casket having a movable bottom ektendi'ng substantially the fulllength of thecasket and means: for raisingand lowering the same, said bot-. tom being mounted on a "single,transverse. fulcrum, and saidraising and lowering means including asupport, a sliding member e verse fulcrum,and said raising, andlowerposition.

ing means including a support, said supporthavingan upright, a membermovable onthe upright, a" lever pivoted on the support andhaving'connection with the movable memher on the upright to raise orlower the same, and means to hold said lever in an adjusted 3.Aburialcasket having a 'niovable:bot-' tom and means for raising andlowering the same, said bottom being, mounted on a trans verse fulcrum,and said raising and lowering means including a support, said supporthaving an upright, a member movable on the upright, a lever pivoted onthe support and having connection with the movable member on the uprightto raise or lower the same,

a. notched segment carried by the support,

and av handle having a toothspring ,held in V engagement with anot'ch ofthe segment to;- hold the lever in adjusted position and adapted to. bedepressed to" disengage the tooth from the notch.

I 4, A burial casket havingamovablebofi tom andmeans for raisingandlowering the, same,said bottom being mounted on a trans-I verse fulcrum,and saidraisingand lowering means including a support, said supporthavingan upright, a membermovable on the upright, a lever pivoted on thesupport and having connection with 1 the :movable mem-.

beron the upright to raise or lower'the same, means to hold said lever.ana'djustedposition, and means between the support and the-movablebottom to tilt the lattertranss. .versely to one side and to holdthe-same-in such position.

" 5. A burialjcaske't havinga movable falsebottom, means for incliningthe same longitudinally, and meansifor tiltingv said movable bottomtransverselytoward one side.

"- 6. A burial caskethaving a movable falsev bottom, means for incliningthe'same longitudinally," and means for, tiltingsaid "mov-- able bottomtransversely toward aside and 'the casket and oo-operating with-*thead--holding the-same in adjusted position;

7. A'burial casket having amovable'bot- 3 tom, said bottom beingfulcrumed' trans, versely intermediately'of its ends and 'ha v--.

tom toward one side;

versely intermediately ofits ends and -l1a'ving-- adepressed portion atone side, and means for bracing saiddepressed portion. f 9. A burialcasket having a movablefalse bottom, said falsebottomhaving a dependingportion extendingfrom a ,pointl'inten mediately-to one .end.' r

' .10. A burial casket'havmg amovabletalse bottomfwithla dependingportion, a spring bottom for said movable bottom, an intermediatesupport for the spring bottom,'*and at one end of the shell on thebottom thereof,

a slide on the -upright,'a lever pivotally supported and connected tothe ,slide, said slide being connected to the movable bottom, whereby,when the lcveris; actuated, the mov-.- able bottom willbc raised orlowered at one endzto arrange the same 'inan inclined or horizontalposition-and held in either position,and adjustment means betweenthemov- 1 able bottom and the support ofthe upright to adjust the movablebottom to; a transversely tilted position-or horizontally and hold thesame in either position. -V '12. A burial casket having a movablebottom, a support for the movable bottom with' in one end of the casketandadjustable-means. between said support and the movable bottom to tiltthe movable, bottom transversely, said Ingvable bottom having a.depressed portion, s1 e. A 13. Aburial casket'having .a movable bot-itom,asupport at one end of the-casket and adjustable means-between saidsupport and the movable bottom to tiltithemovable bot-' tomtransversely, said movablesbottom havinga depressed portion, and meanstotilt the, movable bottom longitudinally to raise the head-end thereofor lowerthe same toa substantially horizontal position. i v I 14. Thecombination witha burial casket having a spring bottom supported in araised positionqwith respect to the'bottom of the] casket, and means-fortilting the spring bot- 15; The combinationwith a casket havingatop'closure, a'bed bottom fulcrumed upon' the bottom of the vcasketandinclud-ing a springv structure adaptedto support a mattress, and adepressed central portion over; thefulcrum, and means at the head end ofly-intermediately-of its ends and having'ade pressedlportion at oneside, and means for 17. A burial casket having a movable false bottomwith a depressed portion, a spring bottom for said movable bottom, anintermediate support forthe spring bottom, and means for tilting themovable bottom from a position above the spring bottom adjacent the topof the casket and one end thereof.

18. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a movablefalse bottom pivoted relative to said casket on a longitudinal axis, andmeans for adjustably tilting said bottom relative to said casket.

19. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitarymovable false bottom extending substantially the full length of thecasket, said bottom being hinged to the casket, and means comprising arack and a pivoted member engageable with said rack for adjusting saidfalse bottom about its pivot, said rack being so arranged that loosefabric within the casket will not tend to become enmeshed therein.

20. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitarymovable false bottom extending substantially the full length of thecasket, said bottom being hinged to said casket and having downwardlyextending ratchet teeth adjacent one end thereof, and a pivoted memberengageable with said teeth for adjusting said false bottom about itspivot.

21. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitarymovable false bottom extending substantially the full length of thecasket, said bottom being hinged to the casket on a transverse axisintermediate its ends, and means comprising a rack and a pivoted memberengageable with said rack for adjusting said false bottom about itspivot, said rack being so arranged that loose fabric within the casketwill not tend to be come enmeshed therein.

22. In a device of the class described, a burial casket having a unitarymovable false bottom extending substantially the full length of thecasket, said bottom being hinged to said casket on a transverse axisintermediate its ends and having downwardly extending ratchet teethadjacent one end thereof, and a pivoted member engageable with saidteeth for adjusting said false bottom about its pivot.

ALBERT G. HARMS.

